like bloom of the new Spencer sweet-peas, 

 or a group of the Meehan "Mallow Marvels. " 



The quest of the perfect rose, one of the 

 "fascinating beyond-the-horizon quests," how 

 it has engaged the imagination of generations 

 of rose growers! To what enormously expen- 

 sive and patient trials it has driven them! 

 Labor has been piled on labor to remove " some 

 fancied taint in the gold of a yellow," petals 

 have been multiplied, colors and shades 

 varied, bush roses have been given climbing 

 habits, and the seasons have been prolonged 

 by inducing perpetual bloom. I need only look 

 at my La France or Killarney gratefully to 

 acknowledge the debt. 



Doubtless there is danger of spoiling some 

 of the sweet things of the garden. No descrip- 

 tion of novelties could induce me to permit any 

 "improved" varieties to supplant the old 

 favorites by association made almost sacred. 

 The new may be richer in dress, but they call 

 up no memories. They make no appeal to the 

 affections as the old ones do. 



Then, too, some of the products of the 

 experts are not improvements, while some are 

 [113] 



